|
Badal’s vendetta bureau nets Catman S S Virk
WSN Bureau
 Chandigarh: On
September 10, one of India's decorated senior police officers and
former head of Punjab Police Sarabdeep Singh Virk, often credited
with helping in containing terrorism by introducing the idea of
'Cats', was arrested for indulging in multi-crore property deals
while in service, misusing his official position, harbouring dead
'Cats', and making money through the easiest of methods known to
Punjab Police -- bribery. Virk called it "political vendetta”, said
he had refused to join truck with Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, the
opposition remained totally silent while the lone voice of Amarinder
Singh, the former CM, was heard in Virk's favour. As Virk soon
landed in hospital, Amarinder came asking about his health.
Virk, the 1971
batch officer, was arrested from Maharashtra Bhawan in New Delhi
months after he was suspended by the Badal government. He had been
reptariated to his parent Maharashtra
cadre and was currently under compulsory waiting without posting.
During the electioneering in Punjab, the Election Commission had
directed his removal from the top post of police in Punjab after his
land deals came to light in which Virk conceded he was a partner.
The four-page
first information report (FIR) lodged by senior superintendent of
police (Vigilance) Surinderpal Singh Virk charges Sarabdeep Singh
Virk under Sections 168, 169 (doing business while in service), 216,
218 and 120-B (for harbouring a person wanted by law, giving him a
fake identity on basis of false record to screen him from law) and
Sections 7,13 (1)(d)(e) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of
Corruption Act. Interestingly, so much are the Punjab Police
officers in cohoots that Virk has now revealed that the IO
Surinderpal Singh Virk was himself a beneficiary of his land deals,
a fact which has so far not been denied.
What the FIR
says
-
Sarabdeep
Singh Virk, though in government service, indulged in the business
of real state and colonisation.
-
He entered
into a business deal with Avinash Singh Grewal for the purchase
and disposal of 15 acres of land in Zirakpur. Virk reportedly made
payment of Rs 6 lakh to Avinash Singh Grewal through his Sector 9
Times Bank joint account with his wife and daughter. Subsequently,
the Zirakpur land was developed and plots were carved out and
sold.
-
Sarabdeep
Singh Virk expanded his colony by another five to 10 acres and
sold about 100 plots. Several senior civil servants purchased
plots from him. Virks also constructed a marriage palace, a
restaurant and a nightclub illegally.
In 2006,
Virks got approved a mega project from the previous Congress
government and “fraudulently” got three acres of land included in
the Zirakpur Notified Area Committee. By this fraudulent
transaction, a loss of Rs 10 core was caused to the state. The
properties Virks own include a house in Sector 27, a flat in Sector
39, Chimney Heights, 14 acres of land for Chandigarh International
Convention Center, 25 acres of land in Bakarpur village and seven
acres of land in Sekhan Majra village in the name of his wife.
12 September, 2007
|
Read Also
